Young friends & garden produce

Since getting to know Mehdi & Élodie we have got to know many of their friends, and we love 'em!

Curry lunch chez nous with Tristan (enjoying Tine's naan bread)!

Papy Dave's curry. Renowned!

Benèze time with Alex ('Choke': don't ask!), Diego, Élodie & Mehdi

On our decking, Diego, Mehdi, Élodie & moi...

...and your favourite La Tranche couple.

We had an excellent year for certain produce in the garden.

Green beans were plentiful and much appreciated.

Plus we had success with cucumbers...

...as Betty would agree!

The tomatoes never stopped coming, right through until November.

874g of pure taste!

Pool time

We had such a hot summer that a daily swim was practically essential!

Betty posing in Sacha's pool

Mehdi & Selim join AlfnBets in our pool...

...and the three youngsters practise sky-diving!

Élodie with Selim & Betty

Betty in a calm moment.

After all this activity it's time to relax and watch a film.

Food, glorious food

Twelve year old Alfie's always ready to eat and here's the proof!

It could be a salad lunch chez nous...

...or mussels chez Fafa...

...with a tasty caramel dessert.

Of course there's always time for a snack: chi chi on the town square...

...or a waffle at Côté Plage...

...followed by a drink with Maman.

Back home it's not a big catch of shrimps but they still go down well!

Philippe comes to visit too

We were lucky that Philippe decided last minute to fly over for a few days, overlapping with Nadine & co.

Here joined by niece Caroline with partner Jo

Cleggies United? Matt, Phil & Sacha on the beach at La Terrière

Of course we had to introduce Philippe to le Benèze, the bar just round the corner from our house.

Phil & Alfie setting off on a cycling adventure.

Philippe, Nadine & Matthieu at l'Embarcadère, our other favourite bar, this one on the beach.

Now joined by Betty and Caroline.

He's not in the photo but Philippe took this one of les z'amis, picnicking on the beach one evening.

They're back!

Yes, it was once again time for Alfie & Betty to spend their summer here, along with Nadine of course.

This time they had a holiday within a holiday flying off to Spain for a week, joined by Simon who sadly couldn't make it to La Tranche this year.

A very excited pair in the plane at Stansted.

On arrival Matt was very happy to torture (tickle?) his niece...

...and it wasn't long until they were in the pool, along with Sacha.

Another day Sacha & Alfie show off their England football kits.

Happy photos chez nous...

...in town...

...and on the jetty.

New gym and celebrations before the arrival of AlfnBets

Just around the corner from chez nous

The town's new gym (or Fitness Centre)

We went with Mehdi & Élodie on the open day...

...and I was persuaded to sign up for 12 months.

I'm not sure it's my 'cuppa' but I've got to make the effort now.

Meanwhile le Camping Base d'aunts celebrated its 60th anniversary this summer with apéritifs every couple of weeks. Of course I had to force myself to go!

I didn't force myself to have a cheeky pint with Matt at the Aloha Wake Park, coincidentally just around the corner from chez nous too 😂.

And here they are, AlnBets all ready for their new schools in September (and counting the days to visit us)!

Big sis comes to visit

My elder sister Ann came to see us for the third time in July. She's already talking about 2026!

Siblings down by le Pavillon.

Ann at the beautiful port of La Rochelle.

I'm sure it's no coincidence but she often comes when the town offers its Bastille Day firework celebrations...

...as stunning as ever.

Sometimes nature has its own display: the moon over La Rochelle round the bay.